Archive for the ‘Mint in Box’ tag

You just never know when or where you will come across a cool old toy for your collection, which is why it’s imperative that you always keep your eyes open for such hidden deals.

Years ago, when my family moved from Brooklyn to Oyster Bay, Long Island, in the sleepy bayside town there was an old stationery store that had one of those 1960s-era Corgi display cases. It was filled with dozens of old Corgi models, including an original issue of James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5. Everything in the case looked like it had been frozen in time, with a light coating of dust covering each of the little cars.

Next to James Hunt’s McLaren MP26 was a fairly rare Corgi Whizzwheels, perfectly preserved in its original box. It was a purple convertible rendition of a Toyota 2000GT, and I was certain that it had never been removed from its protective yellow and orange cardboard. Sporting a price tag of just $4, it was soon mine, and quickly rested on the top shelf of my own display cabinet.

Whizzwheels were issued by Corgi in response to Mattel’s immensely popular Hot Wheels. They were called Whizzwheels because of their low-friction wheels, and had removable plastic chassis and axle/wheel assemblies. Based on the Corgi Rockets range, they are 1/43rd scale in size, and for the era are rather fine representations of the original cars, with accurate proportions and respectable details. My Toyota dates back to 1970, the year when Whizzwheels were first introduced, and is model number 375.

It was years before I decided to take the 2000GT out of the box and give it an inspection. It’s perfect, with not a single scratch or chip anywhere. In fact, for me to take these photos of it, it had to come out of its box for only its second time. It really is a “mint-in-box” example of an otherwise not-so-popular–but one that is now highly desirable–sports car and one that is finished in an equally unusual color.

As expected of the range, prices vary depending on the popularity of the car and the toy’s rarity. Mint-in-box examples have sold for $200 or more, while worn examples without boxes can be had for $10 or so. I don’t know what the value of my Toyota is, nor do I care, because chances of my parting with it just aren’t in the cards.

Being a pauper at the time, I wasn’t able to buy that Corgi display cabinet’s entire contents, but I most certainly would have if I’d had the money. But being out of work then and trying to keep a 1973 BMW 2002 with 185,000 miles running well sapped all my finances. But each day when I glance up at the bookcase across from my desk, I take the time to admire my little purple Toyota and the wonderful memories of moving out of the big city that go along with it.